Hay-rack



{No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

D. KING.

HAY RACK.

No 558,498. Patented Apr. 21, 1896.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. D. KING. HAY RACK (No Mqdel.)

D10. 558,498. Patented Apr. 21, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL KING, OF FINKSBURG, MARYLAND.

HAYI-RAC K.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,498, dated April 21, 1896. Application filed ne 4, 1895. Serial No 551,661. (No model.)

To all whomrit-may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL KING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Finksburg, in the county of Carroll and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Hay- Raclnot' which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in. hay-racks.

The objects of the present invention are to simplify and improve the construction of hayracks, to increase their strength, durability, and lightness, andto enable them to be'convenientlymo'nnted on and removed from their running-gear.

- The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hay-rack constructed inaccordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a central lon-' gitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View illustrating the manner of supporting the central beam on the bolsters. Fig. 5 is a detailperspective view of one of the posts, illustrating the manner of securing the same to the bolster.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts iii all the figures of the drawings. I

1 designates a central longitudinal I-beam constructed of metal and detachably mounted on transverse bolsters 2, which are secured in the usual manner to front and rear axles 3 and 4. The I-beam is provided adjacent to each bolster with a substantially rectanguface of the I-beam and the upper portion of the other arm attached to the adjacent side of the support 5, and the depending tongue 6 is arranged on the outer face of the bolster 2 and fits in a recess formed by plates 7, secured to the outer face of the bolster and arranged at the side edges of the tongue. The plates 7 have their inner portions 'angularly bent, as shown, to form a recess or socket for the depending tongue 6. By this construction the central longitudinal I-beam .isdetachably mounted,;0n the front and rear bolsters and may be readily lifted off the same when front and rear sections 8 hay-rack are removed. I

The front and rear sections 8 and 9 of the hay-rack are detachably mounted on and interlocked with the central longitudinal I- beam andare arranged to slide outward for removal, and they'are constructed substantially thesame, with the exception that the parallel side bars 10 of the front section are disposed horizontally, as shown, while the side bars 11 of the rear sections are arched to clear the hind wheels of the vehicle.

The side bars 10 and 11 of the front and rear sections 8 and 9 are connected by innerand 9 of the supported by centrally-arranged "transverse braces 14, which are provided with central recesses 15, forming shoulders and receiving the upper portion of the central longitudinal I-beam, and the inner and outer transverse bars are provided at opposite sides .of the central longitudinal I-beam'with lugs 16, engaging the upper flanges of the I-beam, and preferably formed by plates suitably secured to the lower faces of the transverse bars. These lugs 16 interlock with the top flanges of the- Ibeam and are adapted to be disengaged therefrom by sliding the sections outward. Each-section is provided at opposite sides of the central longitudinal beam, at points adjacent to the sides of the hay-rack, with vertical posts 17, depending from the section and resting upon the adjacent bolster 2 and forming supports for the sections, and also projecting above the section to provide struts for truss bars 18 and to serve as stops to give a load a firm hold on the bottom or framework of the hay-rack to prevent any lateral movement or accidental shifting of a load of hay or other material when the hay-rack is traveling over inclined and uneven surfaces. The lower end of each post is provided with a depending attachment-plate 19, having a lower angular portion conforming to the configuration of the bolster 2 and detachably secured to the same by a fastening device 20, which is adapted to be removed to enable the section to slide outward on the I-beam.

laterally offset to form the opening 22, or it' may be formed by a single bar provided with an opening, if desired. The truss-bar increases the holding power of the post in its action on the load, and it may be connected with the tiebar at opposite sides of the post by short bars or plates Each section is supported at'its outer transverse bar by a truss comprising a central rectangular strut 24 and opposite inclined trussbars 25; but any other desired form of bracing may be employed to enable the sections to withstand successfully the strain incident to their use. r

The outer transverse bars of the sections are provided at their inner sides with perforated ears or lugs 26, arranged in pairs and having detaehably pivoted or fulcrumed between them the lower ends of standards 28, which are preferably constructed of channeled metal, but which may, if desired, be of any other desired form. The fastening devices 27 may be withdrawn, when it is desired to detach the standards, to facilitate the re moval of the hay-rack. Each standard is supported at its lower end by a pair of upwardly and inwardly inclined arms 29, which are preferably slightly curved and constructed of a single piece of metal and have atransverse connecting portion at their lower ends riveted, bolted, or otherwise secured to the upper face of the transverse bar. The arms 29 embrace the lower portion of. the standard, which is secured at the desired inclination by a removable fasteningdevice 30, adapted to be withdrawn to permit the standard to be folded down upon the section, when desired.

The standards mutually support each other, and those at each side are connected with each other and with the adjacent terminals of the inner transverse bars 13 by adjustable connections 31, preferably composed of links to make the connections flexible. The adjacent ends of the link-rods 32 are shown in the drawings as passing loosely through perforasections by any other suitable means, such as a hook and chain, or any other well-known equivalent of a turnbuckle. This construction or connection between the standards and f the central portion of the rack produces the desired tension on the parts, and when a hook and chain is employed it will be apparent that the standard will form powerful levers to assist the operator in straining the parts to the desired tension. The outer' terminals of the connections 31 are pivoted to cars or lugs 34:, projecting inward from the standards at points intermediate of the ends thereof.

The sections of the hay-rack are further supported and strengthened by a series of stay-chains 35, located between and connecting the inner transverse bars and holding the sections against outward movement. Each stay-chain is composed of two sections, having their outer terminals permanently attached to the inner transverse bars and their inner terminals adjustably connected together to enable the chains to be varied in length to correspond with the adjustment of the sections and to secure the desired tension. The front standards are connected by upper and lower transverse rods 30, preferably composed of sections loosely or movably connected with the standards and adj ustably connected with each other. 7

A flexible ridge-pole support or ladder 37 is centrally arranged between the front standards and is connected with the upper transverse rod 36 and with the rectangular strut 24, and it is preferably composed of links ar-' ranged to form the sides and the transverse portions 38 to engage the ridge-pole.

The hay-rack is provided at its rear end.

with any suitable Windlass-shaft 39 to permit therope or other connection of the rear end of the ridge-pole tobe drawn to the desired tension. 1

It will be seen that the hay-rack is simple .and inexpensive in construction, that it possesses great strength, durability, and lightness, and that it may be readily mounted on are supported in the manner shown, the front axle of the running-gear may be readily turned without the front wheels coming in contact with any of the parts of the rack, ex cept the central longitudinal beam, which will not interfere with the ordinary turning,

and which is arranged to allow the front' wheels great latitude iii. cramping a haywagon.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resort-ed to Without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this in-- vention.

What I claim is- 1. In a hayrack, the combination with transverse bolsters 2, of a central longitudinal beam detach'ably mounted on and interlocked with the bolsters and extending the entire length of the hay-rack, and a rack composed of sections and removably mounted on and supported by thelongitudinal beam, substantially as described.

2. .In a hay rack, the combination with transverse bolsters 2, of a central longitudinal beam detachably mounted on and interlocked with the bolsters and extending the entire length of the hay-rack, the detachable hayrack sections mounted on the longitudinal beam, and supports located at opposite sides of the beam and depending from the rack and resting upon the bolsters, substantially as described.

3. The combination with transverse bolsters, of a hay-rack provided with posts depending from it and supported on the bolster, and projecting above the hay-rack to engage a load, substantially as described.

4. The combination of bolsters, a rack-section, posts depending from the sections and resting upon the bolsters and projecting above the sections and forming struts and adapted to engage a load, the truss-bars connecting the upper ends of the posts with the sections, and tie-bars connecting the ends of the trussbars, substantially as described.

5. The combination of bolsters, hay-rack sections, posts located at opposite sides of the sections and depending therefrom and mounted on the bolsters and extending upward from the sections, the truss-bars connected with the upper ends of the posts and with the sections, the tie-bars connecting the ends of the truss-bars, and the transverse braces connecting the posts, substantially as described.

6. The combination of bolsters, a longitudinal beam, the hay-rack sections mounted in the beam and provided with lugs arranged in pairs and engaging the beams, posts depending from the sections and supported on the bolsters, and transverse braces connecting the posts and provided with central shoulders receiving and engaging the longitudinal beam, substantially as described.

7.-. The combination with a longitudinal.

beam, removable hay-rack sections mounted thereon, the standards hinged at their lower ends to the outer ends of the sections and arranged at the corners thereof, and the con-- tinuous longitudinally-disposed connections between the standards arranged at the sides of the rack and engaging the inner ends of the sections, substantially as described.

8. The combination of a longitudinal beam, hay-rack sections provided with inner and outer transverse bars, the front and rear standards hinged at their lower terminals at the outer transverse bars and arranged at the sides of the'rack, and the longitudinallydisposed adjustable connections between the front and rear standards engaging the ends of the inner transverse bars, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL KING. IVitnesses J OHN H. SIGGERS, WM. E. BoULTER. 

